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| Sunday, 6 February 2005 |
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Lift fashion extravaganza : ' Mystic reality ' by Rikaza Hassan The ballroom of the Galle Face Hotel on
Monday January 24, was awash in a splash of colours in an extravagant
display of creativity. Themed 'Mystic Reality', it expressed nature, life force, soul, legends, dreams, and belief in spiritual apprehensions and was idealised by the blue creation at the centrepiece. Sixteen young designers out of a total of 25 were judged by an external examiner from the Northampton University, UK using international standards, enabling them to display three of their best creations. They included both the three commercial pieces as well as the avant-garde or experimental piece which also acts out as a story board of their theme. From auroras to nascar lines to the phoenix and werewolf, the cedar tree, corn and Mydia and the golden fleas of Greek mythology, these young designers had exploited the theme to its far extremes to create most amazing outfits both in terms of design and quality.
A striking bridal wear collection in the unconventional blood red had real rose petals included into its folds. The Egyptian goddess Basted, the creator of heaven and hell was depicted by blue, red tones and brown tones respectively. The mythical werewolf inspired a trendy mens' line with fur, strings and even a knee length kilt like skirt. The toned Peruvian desert showed itself with nascar line prints in a graceful ensemble for the ladies. A stylish collection for the conservative woman in a mix of leaf green and ethereal white with shawls, long sleeves and high necks drew inspiration from the cedar tree of Lebanon and the spirits it supposedly protects. The avant-garde was made with real bark of the cyprus tree. The phenomenon of auroras and the sun whose rays are its cause was literally presented in a colourful and outstanding women's wear collection; the student had dyed the materials by hand to get the auroral colours that she required and brushed it by hand for a shining effect.
LIFT was founded by Mrs. Roshani Leanage, the Managing Director to help her daughter, Ms. Niroshani Leanage, the Course Director to continue with her aspirations in fashion education. Educated in both Bangalore and the UK in fashion education, she wished to continue with her teaching as well as bring Sri Lanka to the forefront in the world of fashion. A difficult task at first, having to contend with the ignorance associated with fashion design in Sri Lanka where simple dressmakers were the norm, they have strived to make fashion an acceptable and viable career choice and have plans for the opening of a gallery to exhibit students' garments. |
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| Politics | Produced by Lake House |
It was the exhibition of the students of the Lanka
Institute of Fashion Technology (LIFT) who completed the Diploma in
Fashion Design offered by the institute last year.
From the elegance of a black tissue ensemble complete with hats and
shawls epitomising the ugly black chick turning into a beautiful swan, the
shimmery peacock blues of the ocean, the very now yellows of the sunflower
and the menswear lines inspired by copper, an ever colour changing mineral
and the blacks, greys, reds and oranges of the phoenix; traversing from
one end to the other, the brilliance of the students was palpable.
Undoubtedly the most hard worked on and one of the best designs to be
seen was the tobacco inspired menswear pieces showcasing the fresh green
plant, the mystic turned into a life hazard, the reality. The avant-garde
design was almost exclusively put together using real tobacco leaves. A
necklace made out of cigars strung along a string, the garment made of
dried tobacco leaves and best of all a pair of slippers also made of
leaves from the tobacco plant.
